LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) 鈥� Russian skaters can return to world championships and Grand Prix events next season as neutral athletes for the first time since the full military .
The it was lifting a ban since February 2022 on skaters and officials from Russia and Belarus taking part in its events, though without their national symbols of flag and anthem.
Still, athletes could face issues getting entry visas from countries hosting ISU events.
In 2027, the world championships of figure skating is hosted by Finland and South Korea hosts in short track. China will host the next speed skating worlds.
The ISU cited the success of some skaters from Russia and Belarus qualifying for and competing at the 鈥渨ithout related incident.鈥�
In figure skating in Milan, Russians and Petr Gumennik were cleared to compete with neutral status and both finished sixth in their individual events. Viktoriia Safonova of Belarus also competed with Individual Neutral Athlete status.
Guidance from the International Olympic Committee also was noted by the ISU. The on May 7 to readmit athletes from Belarus without vetting for neutral status.
Skaters approved with neutral status must not have 鈥渁t any time since February 2022, actively and publicly supported that war,鈥� the ISU said.
The governing body said the decision 鈥渄oes not affect the ISU鈥檚 continued condemnation of armed conflict, nor the ISU鈥檚 ongoing support for Ukrainian skaters.鈥�
The exclusion of Russian and Belarus skaters since 2022 was, the ISU said, not a punishment for the war but a decision taken 鈥渆xclusively in the interests of the safety of participants and the integrity of the competition.鈥�
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